Pasture, present and future: NZ-Ireland hold joint summit

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Up to 1000 farmers, researchers, dairy sector influencers, innovators and critical thinkers are expected to attend New Zealand and Ireland's first joint Pasture Summit in New Zealand next month.

It will consist of two conferences – one in Hamilton on November 26-27 and one in Ashburton on November 29-30.

Chairman Colin Armer said it would have "a dynamic group of international and local speakers, cutting-edge science and robust debate".

"We'll be talking about innovation, new ways to reduce dairying's environmental footprint and the natural health and wellness benefits of dairy products from pasture-fed cows," Armer said.

Olin Greenan, North Island dairy farmer and conference organising committee member, said he chose to get involved in the summit because it reinforced what he believed dairy farmers should be doing.

"For any enthusiastic grass farmer, young or old, these events are not to be missed. Farmers can come along to hear why New Zealand is a world leader in producing pasture- based food and ensure that this can continue for generations to come."

The Pasture Summit is being organised and run by a group farm business owners and dairy sector experts from across New Zealand and Ireland, and is supported by DairyNZ.

Organisers say registrations and expressions of interest for the summit have been received so far from people in New Zealand, Ireland, Australia, the United States, South America and South Africa.

The conference will include talks by farmers and scientists with a strong focus on profit, pasture, genetics and sustainable business growth.

Michael Murphy, an Irish dairy farming leader will address opportunities and challenges faced by pasture based dairy farming, today and tomorrow.

South Island dairy farmer and conference secretary Alistair Rayne said: "It doesn't matter what kind of system you prefer, our competitive advantage in the global food market is producing nutritious dairy products at relatively low cost, from grass fed cows. Future opportunities for on-farm profitability, sustainability and product value all have exciting outlooks from pasture-based systems and the roundup of speakers at the Pasture Summit from here and overseas look like they'll open our eyes to those."

North Island and South Island conferences mirror session titles and speakers; however, each will have a region specific focus. The next Pasture Summit will be held in Ireland in two years' time with the 2022 event returning to New Zealand.

Register for the Pasture Summit here.